The next wave of RFID will help with more than just inventoryNothing has changed the way jewelers do inventory in the past decade as profoundly as RFID (radio frequency identification). The wireless technology, which uses radio frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, has shortened the work of taking stock by using hand-held devices that recognize tags attached to pieces of jewelry. Whereas it once took an hour to make sure every engagement ring in the store was present and accounted for, it now takes five minutes.But the capabilities of RFID have increased in the past year, delivered via slick, new stand-alone and add-on devices from such companies as TJS, Gem-Where, and TracTech. And future retail applications are sure to make the technology even more ubiquitous. Here’s the latest in RFID’s ongoing evolution.An Uptick in InformationWhere RFID was (and still is, for t